Horton Hears a Who

Posted on December 15, 2008 at 8:00 am

A-
Lowest Recommended Age: All Ages
MPAA Rating: G
Profanity: None
Alcohol/ Drugs: None
Violence/ Scariness: Mild peril, no one hurt
Diversity Issues: A theme of the movie.
Date Released to Theaters: March 14, 2008
Date Released to DVD: December 16, 2008
Amazon.com ASIN: B001DPHDCY

horton1.jpgThey finally got Dr. Seuss right in this warm-hearted and heart-warming story of the elephant who is “faithful 100 percent” and the world on a little speck of dust that he rescues.

Jim Carrey provides the voice of Horton, an elephant with a gentle soul who teaches the jungle animal children. When a frail plant is carelessly trampled underfoot, he stops to pat it carefully back into the ground. And when he hears a tiny voice coming from a dust mote, he races after it to tenderly place it on a clover. He finds a way to communicate with the voice, which belongs to the Mayor of Whoville (Steve Carell). Each is surprised to find out that there is a world beyond the one he thought of as everything there was.

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14 Replies to “Horton Hears a Who”

  1. Are you aware that this movie is pro life?????
    “Everyone is important no matter how small!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. I took my 6-year old to see this one (after having him read the book! LOL) and he loved it. I especially liked the character of Jojo and his relationship with his father. The movie was a bit long/drawn-out for me – parts of it *did* feel like filler (and what was with that anime sequence?) but I still left the theater feeling pretty happy happy joy joy.

  3. Hi. I saw a review of this movie that another mom posted. She was very angry at the portrayal of homeschoolers. She said the Kangaroo was a ‘Nazi’ type mom and that it portrayed homeschooling in a negative light. I have not seen the movie. Would anyone who has seen it like to address these comments?
    thanks!

  4. Hello Mommyto7, and thanks for writing! I hope you will return and comment often. I think it is a bit of an overreaction to say that the movie’s portrayal of homeschooling is negative. The Kangaroo, who is a bossy and a bit of a bully (but who becomes a friend by the movie’s conclusion) sniffs in a snobbish way that her child is “pouch-schooled” — that’s the only reference.

  5. I havent ever seen the movie and the trailor looks OK. I’m not sure if my older kids would enjoy it! Has anyone ever seen the movie before? i dont understand why it got an A- also! thanks!

  6. Thanks for writing, Movielover! Great screen name. As you can see from my review, I loved the film (I’ve seen it twice already), and think it should be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. What don’t you understand about the grade?

  7. This homeschooling family won’t be encouraging anyone to see this film.
    http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas/?p=9219
    However, there is on one character presented as the opposite of ironic, Horton’s nemesis Kangaroo (Carol Burnett). She’s brittle, void of imagination, humorless, and outright dangerous when her worldview of a society where authority cannot be challenged is. And because liberal Hollywood cannot help themselves, even in a children’s fable, Kangaroo is introduced as a home-schooler (or, “pouch-schooler” as the writers so cleverly put it). It’s fine that liberals find a mother home-schooling her child more frightening than a mother butchering her child in the womb, but must they hurl their intolerance at us in such an inappropriate venue. Is no film safe anymore?

  8. I appreciate your taking the time to write, Kelly. I am sorry that you find that this lovely, heartwarming, and deeply spiritual film is spoiled by one small joke. Yes, the Kangaroo is rigid and judgmental, afraid of anything she does not know or understand. But the movie is clear that she is just trying to protect her child the best way she knows, and — contrary to many films for children that end with the death or destruction of the villain — this one ends with everyone as friends.
    I hope you will return and comment often. But may I ask that you refrain from name-calling and generalizations? The rules of engagement for this site are described in this post: http://blog.beliefnet.com/moviemom/2008/03/bad-manners-and-the-rules-of-e.html
    I think it is not only possible to make your points without resorting to insults and hostility; it strengthens them. The strongest arguments can only be made in a respectful manner and the best possible support you can establish for your position is your own grace, tolerance, and kindness in describing it.

Comments are closed.

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